Hasta La Creative!

Eight-year BBDO New York vet Greg Hahn, who’s worked on efforts for accounts including AT&T, FedEx, GE, HBO, has ascended to the big chair and taken on the role of chief creative officer at the agency. We’ve been told the position has been vacant, but as a result, Hahn will be working closer with his old Fallon colleague David Lubars, his director boss who of course serves as chairman/CCO of BBDO North America. In a statement, Lubars sings Hahn’s praises, saying, ““Greg is a brilliant and creative leader.  Also a humble, great soul.  He’s someone who has been helping to lead his clients forward for as long as I have known him/ Greg was behind the award-winning ‘HBO Voyeur’ project which took home a record-setting ten Lions at Cannes.  He’s also pioneered new ideas in mobile and social.  As Chief Creative Officer, Greg will now be able to bring this thinking to a wider array of clients – it’s how we can help them be that much more relevant to their customers and stay ahead of the game.”

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We’ve received confirmation that Tony Rogers, most recently SVP/creative director at Arc Worldwide/Leo Burnett, is no longer with the agency. What we’re hearing is that there were a few cuts made on Sept. 25 and Rogers was one of those affected. During his brief stint at Leo, Rogers worked on a range of accounts from Coca-Cola to Purina. We’ve also been told that Rogers wrote the last two Leo Burnett Breakfast shows. No word yet on what other “top-level employees” were cut last week, but we’ll keep you posted if we find out more.

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Former Publicis USA chief marketing officer Chris Shumaker has now assumed the same title at Draftfcb, taking on CMO duties for North America. This actually marks the second tour of duty at DFCB for Shumaker, who served as global CMO at what was FCB prior to the merger in 2006.

During his career, Shumaker also spent nearly a decade at the Martin Agency, serving as SVP/director of development and working with a client roster ranging from UPS to Quizno’s. And yes, we’ve obtained a memo from sources that was sent from DFCB global CEO Carter Murray to staff regarding Shumaker’s arrival. This marks Murray’s second major hire following that of global chief strategy officer Nigel Jones and EVP/strategic planning Vita Harris earlier this month. Anyhow, see note regarding Shumaker below and after the jump.

“Date 26 September 2013

From Carter Murray

To Everyone at Draftfcb North America

Re Welcoming Chris Shumaker

I wanted first to thank everyone I have met in my first two weeks for the incredibly warm welcome to the company. It has been very humbling and inspiring.

This note is to share more news that I think is a step forward for all of us. Chris Shumaker is joining our team as our Chief Marketing Officer for North America, a new role at our agency.

continued…

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Well, it appears that it didn’t take long for David Kim to land a new gig in San Francisco, where the senior creative left his heart 10 months ago to join Deutsch LA as EVP, group digital CD on VW  (SmileDrive work included) before suddenly moving back to the Bay Area earlier this month. Well, now it’s confirmed that Kim (much better headshot provided now to your left) has assumed a creative director role at Argonaut, the San Francisco-based, Project: Worldwide-backed shop that was launched earlier this year by Goodby alums Rick Condos and Hunter Hindman among others.

Perhaps Kim’s most notable pre-Argonaut work was Intel’s “The Chase,” which he helped create along with the Google Fiber launch while at Venables Bell & Partners. In addition, Kim also spent time working on T-Mobile at Publicis Seattle. Along with the creative director’s arrival, we’ve finally received confirmation on tips from two weeks ago that Condos and Hindman’s former GS&P colleague Goodby Silverstein account director, Katie Rafferty, has headed to Argonaut to assume a similar role. From what we’ve been told in recent weeks, Rafferty is joining up with yet another Goodby alum, account director Maura Menapace to build up said department at Argonaut.

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Alas, it’s that time of year again when the industry converges on New York City for Advertising Week (damn, time flies). So, to help kick off the event, we gathered a few folks from the creative, media and publishing sides last week in our Mediabistro studios to discuss the weeklong festivities (as  well as various other non-Advertising Week-related industry issues). Those taking part in the lively, free-flowing chat include PSFK founder/CEO Piers Fawkes, Huge creative director Ross Maupin and Scott Schwartz, senior partner, integrated planning at MEC.

The topic of this particular conversation was, yes, Advertising Week, including if its actually still worth attending and if so, what our participants are looking forward to at this year’s event. Tomorrow, the lads discuss the elephant in the room that is the Publicis-Omnicom merger. Stay tuned.

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No, no, it’s not another group creative director gig handed at Grey, but perhaps something bigger, specifically the title of executive creative director. Derek Barnes, who spent the last two-and-a-half years serving as a CD at Anomaly, and his old W+K cohort Lisa Topol, who worked on Jordan Brand among other things while at the latter agency, have joined Grey NY has ECDs according to, yep, a memo, sent to staff yesterday afternoon. As you’d expect, we have Tor’s words to share verbatim. Read below and after the jump.

“Today is a great day at Grey, as two of the biggest creative stars in our business have joined us as ECDs. Lisa Topol and Derek Barnes are officially in the house, and will be overseeing a group of clients including the NFL, Pringles, Downy, Hasbro, and Turner’s TNT and TBS. I cannot tell you how stoked I am to have this kind of creative firepower and world-class leadership as a part of our squad.

Derek Barnes’ resume is ridiculous, and I’ve been trying to hire him for 3 years. Remember the amazing Nike ad with kids mimicking every classic Michael Jordan move? That was Derek. Remember the Agassi/Sampras guerrilla tennis match in the middle of a New York City street? Derek again. Remember Nike’s Michael Vick Experience? Derek Barnes. Many of your favorite SportCenter commercials? Derek. Last year’s #1 Super Bowl commercial with the Budweiser Clydesdale finding his old owner? Yup. This dude did some of Nike and ESPN’s most famous ads, is responsible for helping craft the voice of Brand Jordan, and spent 9 years under the wing of Dan Wieden. From Dan he learned to lead and inspire creatives, and do really, really great work. Derek specializes in storytelling. His tone is never slapstick, never goofy – always authentic and always relevant. Most importantly, Derek is a thoughtful creative leader who other creatives want to work for and with. He was born and raised in New O!
rleans, waiting decades for the Saints to have a winning season. This taught Derek patience. It also made him an absolute football fanatic. He’s shocked to know his morning ritual of checking NFL news is going to be actual, billable work. He lives with his wife and two sons in Jersey, with the understanding that if anyone develops an accent they’re getting the fuck out. Derek has a stalker-level fascination with the band Oasis, and digs weird things like yoga, kayaking and golf.

Derek, on his worst summer job:  ”Working in a ‘take-out-only’ fried chicken place the size of a garden shed.  Without moving, I could reach the refrigerator, fryer and cash register.  I was told if a grease fire broke out, to pull a handle on the wall and the structure would fill with fire retardant foam up to my neck.

Lisa Topol (Leesa Toe-pull) is passionate about the work and says what she believes. Her creative style is unique and often has a smile – Lisa is funny. VERY funny. I’m sure you’re familiar with her Wheat Thins work on air right now. While laugh out loud hilarious, it’s driving business, winning awards, and making people talk about Wheat Thins for the first time in, well, ever. Her IBM and ESPN work is smart and makes you think. Her work on Brand Jordan (she worked with Derek then at Wieden+Kennedy) is thoughtful and inspiring. Lisa has been at Chiat/Day the last several years running a majority of their brands, including Wheat Thins, Nivea, Kahlua and Twix. Who could forget her social media campaign for “Keep a Child Alive” in which they killed famous people like Kim Kardashian and Alicia Keys. Actually they killed them on Twitter, which resulted in a massive freak out by millions of followers, a flood of PR, and raised a million bucks for the fight against AIDS. Lisa als!
o made Schick vagina trimmers an internet sensation, and transformed an entire marketing segment with the famous Kotex tampons campaign that put FCC regulations and girls wearing all white to task. From tampons to tennis shoes, her unique style usually results in provocative, pop-culture-worthy work. She has two dogs, Schmutzy and Wedgie who have won gold and silver medals in those dog agility competitions like the ones on ESPN (this is not a joke. I think.) She’s sung karaoke with N Sync’s Lance Bass, makes custom jewelry with her sister, plays tons of tennis and loves the New York Giants.

Lisa, on the beginning: “Let’s see…before I went into advertising I was pursuing a PhD in religion in 19th Century Victorian literature, but it occurred to me that the market for that topic was starting to dry up.”

Needless to say, I’m thrilled we all get to work with these two gems.
They will undoubtedly make the work better, deeper and more famous.
Good times. Good times.
Tor.”

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Well, our sources were correct in informing us that Emily Verkruyse, who spent a year-plus as engagement director at IPG Media Lab, has joined up with recently formed shop, Anvil + Gear. A+G, if you didn’t know was formed a year ago by Brian Lio and James Genero, who left positions at DDB (where they served as technical Director and UX director, respectively) to start a new agency solely dedicated to UX and experience design.

Verkuyse, who served as account manager at BBDO prior to joining Anvil + Gear, marks one of a few notable departures from IPG Media Lab along with Lesley Melincoff, formerly a project manager at said shop before joining up with Big Spaceship as a producer in June. During her career, Verkruyse has also worked at the likes of Night Agency.

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While we await the next Carter Murray memo to Draftfcb staff, Grey makes a comeback with yet another pair of additions to the group creative director position. The New York office of the latter WPP agency has now welcomed  Nick Pringle and Steve Wakelam as GCDs. The Cannes Gold Lion-winning duo hail from DDB Sydney, where they were creative directors on Volkswagen. Anyhow, Tor yet again has word on the new arrivals.

“I am psyched to say they are now GCDs at Grey, running the Febreze, Ally and P&G Global Corporate accounts.

Friends for the past 15 years, Nick (left/bald) and Steve (right/hair) have worked together, moved countries together and had a baby together. Well, Nick and his wife had the baby, Steve was nearby with hot towels. As for their advertising careers, they have taken a less than traditional route. In fact they both started out as account guys, decided they wanted to make stuff, moved into creative and spent 8 years in various London agencies including Leo Burnett, BBH and CHI. They then packed up and headed to Australia, where they spent five years as the hottest team Down Under, running accounts like Volkswagen, Virgin, Wrigley, Levi’s, McDonald’s and Boag’s Draught. It was in Australia that they developed a powerful integrated approach to building brands through all things digital, mobile and experiential as well as film and print. Next it was on to NYC, where they spent the past 6 months as GCDs helping start up and launch Goodby Silverstein’s office here in the city.

Nick is a wheeler-dealer urban art collector, an averagely good swimmer and has recently taken up woodworking. He grew up in Kent, England. His first introduction to the business was packing 20,000 copies of ‘Ogilvy on Advertising’ in a factory in Maidstone. After walking out with a copy concealed in his pants, he decided to get a job as an account man in London. His time as an account guy at DMB&B ended after three years when he moved into the creative department. For all of 2012 Nick was ranked the number 2 creative in Australia. I think this means they actually rank their creatives in Australia, which is weird. But hey, if you’re gonna be ranked, being number 2 in the entire country ain’t bad.

Steve was once the drummer in a band that got to number 175 in the UK charts (selling 72 singles), has been halfway through writing a book for 5 years now, and has a fetish for watches. He grew up in Marlow, England. After a short and unremarkable stint as an account manager, he switched to being a creative. Always a keen writer, he ignored his passion and became an art director instead. The rest, as they say, is history. He’s since picked up every award known to man, and for all of 2012 Steve was ranked Australia’s number 1 creative. This, I’m sure, pisses off Nick to no end.

These guys have helped build smart brands through all medias, while cleaning up in all the major award shows including Grand Prix at the CLIOS, Grand Prix at the Spikes, four yellow pencils at D&AD, and three golds at One Show to add to their five golds at Cannes. And that’s just in the last few years.

I strongly suggest you check out their work at wakelampringle.com, then come say hello to our new team.

But wait, don’t say ‘hello.’ They’re English and kind of Australian. So say something like ‘Good day, matey!’ or ‘Cheerio,’ which Wikipedia says is considered friendly and more informal.

Tor.”

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You might’ve heard this yesterday, but here’s the verbatim memo from now-official Draftfcb global CEO, Carter Murray, regarding staff. You might have read about Elyssa Phillips‘s appointment as global creative manager, but there’s also Jonathan Harries. From what we’ve been told by sources in the know, Harries until recently had been planning to leave the agency at the end of this year. As part of that transition, we’ve been told that Harries, despite being named executive advisor, global creative back in Oct. 2011 at DFCB, was still parting ways. Well, now what we’ve got some clarification on the exec, who, among other things, is consulting on Mondelez at Draftfcb and is behind the agency nabbing the Beiersdorf account, eventually running it globally after it was consolidated with Draftfcb following the pitch against TBWA at the end of 2010. Here you go from the Murray himself:

“To Everyone at Draftfcb
Re Two Great People

One of the enjoyable parts of this job is recognizing great people. This note is about two individuals who have worked incredibly hard at this agency for many years and whom I have asked to take on more responsibility on behalf of all of us.

I do not know how to work without a strong creative partner and, more importantly, I do not believe that this agency should operate for one day without a Global Chief Creative Officer. In Jonathan Harries we have someone who can do this role flawlessly: someone who respects, attracts and motivates great talent. Jonathan is also someone whom many clients have expressed great respect for over his career.

In my early conversations with Jonathan, his passion for this company and his care for our people and our clients run deep. I have found that we also have similar points of view on great work, and on the importance for us to get this consistently out the door in every office.

Looking forward, Jonathan will lead the charge, with my full partnership and support, to make sure that we have an unfair share of creative talent, that we are unwavering in making certain that we never rest in getting the best creative solutions in front of our clients, and that we apply our creativity more effectively to build our client base further.

The other person that I have asked to step into a larger role is Elyssa Phillips.

Elyssa is someone who has worked tirelessly at FCB and later Draftfcb for 20+ years.  Most recently she has managed to help build the creative network in the company.  Awards are not everything, but they are a good measure of progress, and if you speak to anyone in our creative community, you will hear that she has been a pivotal part of the agency doubling its performance in Cannes for the last three years.

Since meeting Elyssa, she has always spoken of and put others before herself. She has demonstrated the hardest thing in a global role – to make a difference through earned respect and persuasion, not through force of title.

Elyssa knows and loves this agency and, together with her very broad skill set, is a huge asset for us. So I have asked her to become our Chief of Staff.

Elyssa will be a sounding board for me on key decisions and also a driving force to make sure that I and the global leadership team are as effective as possible in our jobs. She will also remain in her role to help make sure that we are relentless in constantly wanting to improve our creative product and in managing our network’s creative community.

There is a lot to do in the coming months and I believe that having these two people in these roles will make us a stronger and better place. If you have a moment, I hope you will have a chance to congratulate them.

Best as always,

Carter”

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Sources familiar with the matter confirm that Steve Hicks, who has spent the last five years at McGarryBowen, serving as digital CCO out of the Dentsu-owned agency’s New York office, has parted ways with the agency.

No word yet on the next destination for Hicks, who worked at O&M and then Tribal DDB prior to his most recent gig, but on an unrelated note, McGB has brought on Oliver Dudley as group creative director on Marriott. Dudley heads to NYC from the West Coast, where he spent well over five-and-a-half years at Organic, last serving as group creative director on accounts ranging from Bank of America to Hilton. In addition to Dudley, our sources tell us that Atmosphere alum Tyler Womack has joined McGarryBowen as senior content strategist, former Digitas VP/marketing Arturo Marconell as account managing director on Chase Private Client and Deidre Stone as group managing director/digital operations.

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